Gezicht op Emmerik van de Kleefsche Berg 1857 - 1859

Johannes Tavenraat made this pencil drawing of Emmerich from the Clevesberg, likely in the mid-19th century. It's a seemingly straightforward landscape, but the sketchbook format provides a telling clue about the role of art at the time. Consider that travel was becoming more accessible to the middle classes, and art was increasingly seen as a tool for education and self-improvement. Sketchbooks like this were not just for professional artists, but also for amateurs documenting their travels and experiences. Tavenraat's drawing reflects the growing interest in landscape as a subject, fueled by Romantic ideals and a desire to connect with nature. To understand this work fully, we might research the history of tourism in the Netherlands and the changing status of art education. The sketchbook reminds us that art is always embedded in specific social practices.